Sodium cocoate is the sodium salt of coconut acid. It usually appears as a white paste or granules, and is derived from a mixture of fatty acids from coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil. We use this ingredient in some of our bar soaps as a surfactant, to gently cleanse skin.

Sodium cocoate can be produced by reacting coconut fatty acids with a strong base, typically sodium hydroxide. This process can be undertaken with almost any fats and alkalis, and is known as saponification - the traditional method for creating soap. Sodium cocoate can be used in bar soaps and cleansers as a gentler alternative to some harsher surfactants.

Other names: Fatty Acids, Coconut Oil, Sodium Salts

Component compounds: (Coconut oil fatty acids) Lauric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Capric Acid, Oleic Acid. (Alkali) Sodium Hydroxide.

Chemical class: Soap